Wearable Stress Relieving Device

ABSTRACT

A wearable stress relief device and system in the form of pliable beads connected together using supporting elongated rods. The pliable beads are made with a stress relieving material that can be squeezed by a user. The beads are supported by a semi-rigid elongated rod, where each elongated rod has ends capable of interconnection with another elongated rod, allowing for a plurality of rods to be connected together to form any number of shapes, including circular forms such as bracelets or necklaces or keychains. One or more pliable beads are placed on each elongated rod.

PRIORITY

This application claims domestic benefit from pending provisional application No. 62/641,622 filed on Mar. 12, 2018.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is in the field of hand-held personal stress relief devices.

BACKGROUND

I have found that all different ages and populations are dealing with intense stressors and high anxiety in their lives right now. The current stress relievers or worry beads or stress balls get left in the drawers and are not around consistently when you really need them.

Squeezing a stress relievers is better than biting nails, picking at cuticles, or biting one's lip, and helps with idle hands for all ages that can sometimes get into trouble in and outside the classroom or work environment.

In the prior art there are hard connecting plastic pop beads for kids, and jewelry connecting hard beads for adults. but none of them are squeezeable and give the proper calming relaxing sensation in use.

SUMMARY

My invention is a wearable stress relief device and system in the form of pliable beads connected together. The pliable beads are made with a stress relieving material, capable of being squeezed or compressed by a user's fingers. The beads are supported by a semi-rigid elongated rod, where each elongated rod has ends capable of interconnection with another elongated rod, allowing for a plurality of rods to be connected together to form any number of shapes, including circular forms such as bracelets or necklaces or keychains. One or more pliable beads are placed on each elongated rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing two elongated rods connected, and two elongated rods separated.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing different bead shapes.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a single bead with an elongated rod running therethrough, and three beads mounted on an elongated rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is a plurality of elongated rods 10, where each elongated rod 10 supports at least one pliable bead 20. Preferably, the pliable beads 20 slide onto an elongated rod 10, and the elongated rods 10 are engaged in a series. The pliable beads 20 are preferably of sufficient resilience to provide tactile and resistive proprioceptive feedback to an individual. The beads may be of any variety of shapes and sizes, as desired.

The elongated rods 10 are preferably flexible and allow for bending to allow for comfort in use, and also to prevent injury to users.

In a preferred embodiment, the elongated rods 10 each have first connecting end 10 and a second connecting end 12, where the first connecting end 10 and a second connecting end 12 are capable of engaging with one another. First connecting end 11 may be a protruding receptive socket, and second connecting end 12 may be formed such as a spherical cap, ball or circular knob. When second connecting end 12 of one of the elongated rods 10 is pushed into first connecting end 11 of another elongated rods 10, the two elongated rods 10 will be removably connected to each other, as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the receptive socket of first connecting end 11 is comprised of a material with the ability to bend and return to its original shape, so that the receptive socket can open slightly to receive the spherical cap end of second connecting end 12 and then return to its original dimensions so that spherical cap end is retained in the socket.

The elongated rods 10 will stay connected and provide resistance to separation by a larger spherical cap at second connecting end 12 being held by a smaller resistive receptive socket of first connecting end 11. Preferably, the spherical cap of second connecting end 12 is able to rotate 360 degrees in the receptive socket of first connecting end 11, allowing movement to an angle ranging between 0 and 90 degrees without forcing the separation of the spherical cap and socket.

Alternate embodiments of the elongated rods provide any form of connectors, as are known in the art, at first connecting end 11 and second connecting end 12 which allow for removably connecting two elongated rods together and provide for some rotational movement relative to each elongated rod.

The elongated rods 10 may be straight or curved, as shown in FIG. 1. Where the user desires to make a bracelet of a plurality of elongated rods, curved elongated rods would be preferred, however, straight elongated rods could be desired for longer applications, such as necklaces or chains. A plurality of elongated rods can be interconnected to each other to form strands of varying sizes to fit a length desired by the user.

The elongated rod is preferably made of a material which allows for slight bending, such as plastic, or other materials as are known in the art. In particular, the elongated rod should be capable of bending or flexing upon the application of force at an angle to an axis of the elongated rod.

The materials used for the elongated rod and the pliable beads is preferably hypo-allergenic. The pliable beads may be made of silicone, foam, or other materials as are known in the art.

Each pliable bead 20 preferably has an elongated channel 21 extending through a portion of the pliable bead, where an elongated rod 10 may be inserted into the elongated channel 21. Preferably the length of the elongated channel 21 is less than the length of the elongated rod 10, so that the first and second connecting ends of the elongated rods can be easily accessed, and two or more elongated rods 10 can be connected to each other. For narrow pliable beads 20, more than one such bead 20 may be placed on a single elongated rod 10.

In an alternate embodiment, elongated channel 21 may be longer than an elongated rod 10, and two or more elongated rods 10 may be connected together within one bead 20.

The size of the beads 20 preferably ranges from ¼ inch to 2 inches in diameter (for round or cylindrical beads), and preferably range in length from ¼ inch to 2 inches. The beads may be of various sizes and shapes and colors.

The beads 20 can be of any shape or size, such as letters, numbers, geometric shapes, or can be representations of hobbies or interests, such as sports equipment, pets, animals, emojis, musical instruments, peace signs, hearts, rainbows, food or drink, toys, or any other shapes of interest. The beads may have any variety of surfaces including smooth, bumpy, ridged, or different textures for tactile input.

The beads 20 are pliable and capable of being squeezed by hand, giving the proper tactile and proprioceptive feedback to increase endorphin release in the brain and release comfort. Squishy beads relieve unwanted stress and anxiety allowing you to relax when you are nervous or bored or tired without saying or acting impulsively. Also squishy beads can increase fine motor coordination and proprioception to increase spatial and body awareness and handwriting skills and to decrease tactile sensitivity and anxiety and fears.

Assembled combinations of the elongated rods 10 and beads 20 can be worn as necklaces, charm bracelets, anklets, or used to support or hold a pocket watch, keychain, eyeglasses, and phone cases. Users can make necklaces, chokers or longer strands by adding more elongated rods and beads.

For adults, instead of trying to locate a stress ball that is lost in a drawer, they can instead have readily available their bracelet, necklace, pocket watch or key chains, with pliable beads for squeezing, or can roll the beads on a forearm or anklet on bottom of foot when sitting in a meeting.

For kids and teenagers, the stress relieving device disclosed herein is an antidote to the stress of: taking tests, giving speeches, going up to bat, or any other stressful activity in school or socially, and can be discreetly played with without anyone noticing.

While certain novel features of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A stress relieving device comprising: a first elongated rod, with a first end and a second end, where the first end comprises a first connector and the second end comprises a second connector, and where the first connector of the first elongated rod is capable of removably connecting with the second connector of a second elongated rod; a pliable bead with a channel running therethrough; where the first elongated rod is capable of extending through the channel of the pliable bead; and where at least one of the first connector and second connector of the first elongated rod is capable of passing through the channel.
 2. The stress relieving device of claim 1, further comprising: the first connector of the first elongated rod comprises a socket capable of receiving the second connector; the second connector of the second elongated rod comprises a spherical cap; and where the spherical cap of the second connector of the second elongated rod is capable of being removably placed into the socket of the first elongated rod.
 3. The stress relieving device of claim 1, further comprising: the pliable bead is comprised of a material capable of compression upon the application of pressure from a user's fingers.
 4. The stress relieving device of claim 1, where the first elongated rod has an axis extending between the first end and the second end, and the first elongated rod is capable of flexing upon application of force at an angle to the axis.
 5. The stress relieving device of claim 1, where the first connector of the first elongated rod is capable of expansion upon the insertion of the second connector of the second elongated rod.
 6. The stress relieving device of claim 5, where after insertion of the second connector, the first connector resumes its original shape. 